Sansevieria plant named &#39;SUPSAN1604&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Sansevieria  plant named ‘SUPSAN1604’ which is characterized by the combination of a compact equitant growth habit, a broad obovate plant form with a very slightly spiraling aspect, broad succulent foliage, decurrent leaf bases with prominent light yellow-green margins, yellow-green foliage with wide, prominent light greyed-green radial bands, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2016/2651, filed Oct. 31, 2016, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Sansevieria cylindrica.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Sansevieria disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘SUPSAN1604’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: The Sansevieria variety ‘SUPSAN1604’ originated as a seedlingselection from the controlled pollination of the proprietary seedparent, Sansevieria cylindrica ‘MXU1802’ (not patented), with theproprietary pollen parent, Sansevieria cylindrica ‘ MXU1807’ (notpatented). Both parents were developed by, and are owned by, theinventor and were never commercially released. Said crossing wasconducted by the inventor in a small, netted greenhouse in Chonburi,Thailand in November of 2006. Seeds from said cross were harvested, thengerminated, and the resulting seedlings were grown to a mature size inorder to evaluate for a desirable combination of commercialcharacteristics. In October of 2008, one candidate plant was observed toexhibit a unique growth habit and leaf coloration. After confirmation ofthe distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed,the inventor selected the new Sansevieria cultivar, ‘SUPSAN1604’, forcommercial introduction.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘SUPSAN1604’ by way ofharvesting vegetative ground shoots was first initiated in October of2008 at Chonburi, Thailand. Access to all plants was restricted, asplants were kept in a greenhouse not open to the public. Throughsubsequent propagation of vegetative ground shoots, five generationshave been reproduced which have shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SUPSAN1604’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘SUPSAN1604’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘SUPSAN1604’ as a new and distinct Sansevieria cultivar:

-   -   1. Sansevieria ‘SUPSAN1604’ exhibits a compact equitant growth        habit; and    -   2. Sansevieria ‘SUPSAN1604’ exhibits a vertically flattened,        broad obovate plant form with a very slightly spiraling aspect;        and    -   3. Sansevieria ‘SUPSAN1604’ exhibits broad, terete succulent        foliage; and    -   4. Sansevieria ‘SUPSAN1604’ exhibits decurrent leaf bases with        prominent light yellow-green margins; and    -   5. Sansevieria ‘SUPSAN1604’ exhibits yellow-green green foliage        with wide, prominent light greyed-green radial bands.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘SUPSAN1604’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Chonburi, Thailand.This plant is approximately 12 months old, shown planted in an 8 cmcontainer.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage of‘SUPSAN1604’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements, made in October of 2017,describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 12 month old‘SUPSAN1604’ plants grown in 8 cm containers, at a commercial greenhousein Chonburi, Thailand. The plants were grown using conventionalgreenhouse production protocols for Sansevieria plants which consistedof overhead irrigation, 50% shade cloth, and no fertilizer. Nophotoperiodic or chemical treatments were given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘SUPSAN1604’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘SUPSAN1604’ and comparisons with the parentsand most similar commercial variety of Sansevieria are provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Monopodial perennial; equitant, compact, and            upright to outward.        -   Plant form.—Vertically flattened with a very slightly            spiraling aspect; broad oblong at the widest point.        -   Average height.—26.4 cm.        -   Plant spread.—5.3 cm at the narrowest point, and 22.2 cm at            the widest point.        -   Plant vigor.—Low to moderate.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Propagation type.—Division of vegetative ground shoots;            harvesting ground shoots from the mother plant.        -   Propagation details.—The time needed to root a shoot            division is approximately 2 to 3 months with temperatures            ranging from approximately 17 to 40 degrees Celsius.        -   Disease resistance.—Plants have not been observed to be            susceptible or resistant to pathogens and pests common to            Sansevieria.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            and 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;            moderate tolerance to rain; moderate to high tolerance to            wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Moderately dense and moderately branched rooting;            roots are slightly fibrous.        -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Shallow to moderately            deep.        -   Diameter of roots.—0.15 cm on average.        -   Texture.—Smooth; no root hairs.        -   Color.—Greyed-yellow, nearest to in between RHS 162C and            162D.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching habit.—Monopodial, equitant; decurrent leaf bases            form the stem.        -   Number of primary (main) stems per plant.—One.        -   Number of secondary (lateral) branches per plant.—None.        -   Appearance and shape.—Stem is not visible; decurrent leaf            bases form the stem.        -   Length.—The decurrent leaf bases collectively have an            average length of 6.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—The decurrent leaf bases collectively have an            average diameter of 1.9 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Distichous.        -   Attachment.—Decurrent.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Quantity.—12.        -   Attitude.—Upright to outward; at an average angle of 45            degrees to vertical.        -   Lamina.—Dimensions — 18.4 cm long and 1.9 cm wide. Thickness            — Approximately 2.0 cm. Shape of blade — Linear; succulent.            Cross-section — Terete. Aspect — Nearly straight. Apex —            Acute with a papery tip which is colored greyed-yellow,            nearest to RHS 151A. Base — Decurrent. Margin — Leaves are            terete so there are no margins, with the exception of the            leaf base; leaf base margins are entire. Texture of upper            surface — Glabrous, smooth. Texture of lower surface —            Glabrous, smooth. Luster of the upper surface — Matte.            Luster of the lower surface — Matte. Color — Juvenile            foliage, upper surface — Green, nearest to RHS 137A, with            mottled radial bands colored yellow-green, nearest to RHS            148D. Juvenile foliage, lower surface — Green, nearest to            RHS 137A, with mottled radial bands colored yellow-green,            nearest to RHS 148D; the base is yellow-green, nearest to in            between RHS 145B and 145C. Mature foliage, upper surface —            Nearest to in between green, RHS NN137A, and greyed-green,            RHS N189A, with mottled radial bands colored yellow-green,            nearest to in between RHS 147B and 147C. Mature foliage,            lower surface — Green, nearest to RHS NN137A, with mottled            radial bands colored greyed-green, nearest to in between RHS            194B and 194C; the base is yellow-green, RHS 147A; margins            of the decurrent base are yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B.        -   Venation.—Pattern — Parallel. Color, upper surface —            Greyed-green, nearest to RHS N189A. Color, lower surface —            Greyed-green, nearest to RHS N189A.        -   Petiole.—No petioles present, leaves are decurrent.

Inflorescence

No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUPSAN1604’ differ from the seed parent,Sansevieria ‘MXU1802’ (not patented), by the characteristics describedin Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘SUPSAN1604’ ‘MXU1802’ Overall plant size.Smaller than Larger than ‘MXU1802’. ‘SUPSAN1604’. Rate of growth. Slowergrowing than Faster growing than ‘MXU1802’. ‘SUPSAN1604’. Leafthickness. Thinner than Thicker than ‘MXU1802’. ‘SUPSAN1604’. Leaflength. Shorter than Longer than ‘MXU1802’. ‘SUPSAN1604’. Generalcoloration Darker green. Lighter green. of the foliage. Leaf pattern.More prominent greyed- Less prominent greyed- green radial banding.green radial banding.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUPSAN1604’ differ from the pollen parent,Sansevieria ‘MXU1807’ (not patented), by the characteristics describedin Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘SUPSAN1604’ ‘MXU1807’ Growth habit. More compactthan Less compact than ‘MXU1807’. ‘SUPSAN1604’. Rate of growth. Fastergrowing than Slower growing than ‘MXU1807’. ‘SUPSAN1604’. Leafthickness. Thinner than Thicker than ‘MXU1807’. ‘SUPSAN1604’. Leaflength. Shorter than Longer than ‘MXU1807’. ‘SUPSAN1604’. Generalcoloration Lighter green. Darker green. of the foliage. Leaf pattern.Lesser occurrence of Greater occurrence of radial bands radial bands.

COMPARISON WITH THE MOST SIMILAR SANSEVIERIA CULTIVAR KNOWN TO THEINVENTOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUPSAN1604’ are most similar to thecommercial cultivar, Sansevieria cylindrica ‘SAN201202’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 24,457). A comparison of ‘SUPSAN1604’ with ‘SAN201202’ is describedin Table 3.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘SUPSAN1604’ ‘SAN201202’ Growth habit. Morecompact than Less compact than ‘SAN201202’. ‘SUPSAN1604’. Leaf attitude.More upright. Less upright. Leaf length. Shorter than Longer than‘SAN201202’. ‘SUPSAN1604’. General coloration Exhibits an overallGenerally exhibits an of the foliage. light greyed-green overall greenappearance. appearance. Leaf pattern. Greater occurrence of Lesseroccurrence of radial bands; bands are radial bands; bands are narrowerthan those of wider than those of ‘SAN201202. ‘SUPSAN1604’.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Sansevieriaplant named ‘SUPSAN1604’, substantially as described and illustratedherein.